Behind the Art with Jen

Hi Artsy friends!  Sharing this page is a pleasure.  I love this accidental photo I took one day with my youngest son on a walk while out Pumpkin picking.  We happened to be holding hands and I just snapped the photo on a whim.  I was so happy and surprised that it came out so well.

It's hard to be a mom somedays when there is so much going on but when moments like this come along and family time is precious, I value these little details.  Holding hands, walking and talking about our lives.  My sweet boy is growing so fast and becoming his own person and I hope that I have instilled kindness and positive choices in him.  

I used the vellum heart to frame our hands so we could still see it through the window.  I drew a heart to draw attention to it.

Lots of splatters from the Distress Marker (I colored on a non-stick mat and added water with a stiff bristle brush and flicked it to create the splatters.  I did the same with some gold and silver inks) and some Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Whipped Spackle through the stencil added some texture to the page.

I absolutely love sparkle and these adhesive sequins were perfect as accents!  Just gives such a shine to the page!

I cherish the times when he grabs my hands and wants to walk with me.  My heart soars with joy!  Love you little man!

Behind the Art with Jen

Hi, Artsy friends!!  This page is all about inner gifts and the lack there of.  I never had the gift of athleticism.  I didn't enjoy sports or even working out as a teen or young adult.  Until I started running, I really didn't like sweating and pushing myself into that uncomfortable zone.   That's where this page came from... that belief in one's self that you can overcome previous negative attitudes.  You can change and grow and pull things out of yourself that  you never dreamed possible.

 I didn't think I could run weekly let along daily.  I know I can now that I have done it!  I dream big... having signed up for a 1/2 marathon in this coming spring, I believe I can do it mile by mile.  All it takes is hard work, dedication, motivation, and support.  I have all of that.  I will succeed because inside me I know I can!  Am I scared to death? YES!  I want to do well..  I want it to be easy.  It won't be, but I will succeed!

 My friends, family, and coaches believe I can do it... that helps me to believe I can too.  It is a journey and running with friends is way easier and more fun!  When I signed up for this 1/2 marathon, I did it because my running friends said I could do it and they would be there running along with me!  I am nervous and scared but training for this makes it more fun and less scary!

 For this page, I used the stick titles and cut off an "S" from Smile to create Mile.  The symbolism behind the arrows just made me think of moving forward step by step, mile by mile.

 What is a hidden gift that you didn't think was there but with the help of others, you discovered later?

Behind the Art with Felecia

Greetings, my friends!

Today I'm posting my last project from Inside Out's True Story kit. 

For my final project, I reflected on a question asked by my nine-year old son - What is my big dream. 

I found it disturbing, because I had no answer.

So, I thought for right now, it would be really good to document the fact that at this stage of my life, there is no big dream in my works.

I started with the white cardstock because I felt like this deserved some messy mists. I used two of Heidi Swapp's mists from my stash to set up my background. 

The words on this My Minds Eye journal card spoke precisely the words I needed into my thoughts about not having a big dream.

As I said in my Behind the Art post for my Be Moved project, I find the butterfly a common image I use in projects about growth or metamorphosis...And this certainly seemed like the right place.

I've apparently grown out of some of the dreams I had earlier in my life and I'm transitioning to new things...

The journal cards make perfect tuck-behinds, so I cut them up and slipped them in where they seemed to go.

Before I went on to the butterflies, I used the distress marker to outline my page. 

My particular rub on set included the perfect title phrase...this is all about my true story right here and right now...I also broke one up to use in the top and bottom corners to draw your eye across the page at an angle.

The die-cute butterflies are so amazing. I like to make them appear as though they are lifting off the page, heading into flight. To do this, I put a triangle of dimensional adhesive under each wing, but adhere the center to my page with quick drying adhesive.

As a final project, this feels so right, to set a course for big dreams and new things to add to my story. Perhaps its time for me to work on the next direction of my trajectory...

Peace, ya'll.

Behind the Art with Jen

Being a mom is hard work!  Sometimes you worry that the kids are doing not enough or too much!  There are a million things to worry about.  But when I catch my boys just being simple boys with sticks, it makes me inner voice calm down and quiet.  I just smile and enjoy the moment.  They were pretending the sticks were bows and they were on an adventure along with their imaginations! 

 

The symbolism of the arrow in this kit helped me to create this page.  I knew immediately what photo I wanted to use!  Sometimes kids show us how to just be... just have fun with whatever is around.  I'd like to think that I can view things creatively (I am an art teacher and artist after all) but with all the craziness in being an adult, I forget to just keep it simple.  They remind me!

 

 I did create a complex embroidery detail with a heart from one of the papers.  I just had to stitch it!  I tried it once and the paper buckled so I had to back it with a thicker piece of cardstock and cut it out and poke the holes to stitch.  I love how it came out! 

 Follow your heart and look for simple signs that you need to slow down and pay attention!  Kids are perfect at finding opportunities to just play.  I need to listen to that inner voice sometimes but also quiet it when it starts worrying!  My kids are my gift to myself and I hope I always catch them being good boys.  They are so sweet and I am a lucky mama!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Hey, everyone!!!  I hope this post is finding everyone working on your own True Story.

For my next project from Inside Out's True Story kit, I focused on using the Just Add Color papers from Bella Blvd. I LOVE black and white papers and how adding just one color can really pop every single paper and pattern in the project.

My project is about my sweet sister Kellie...we've lived at least 1/2 way across the country from one another all our adult lives.  BUT she recently moved just 30 minutes down the road from me and we've been having a great time writing a new chapter to our story - one where we have family dinners and lots of phone calls and sharing special moments.

This picture was one we took on a recent trip to California...a moment of huge fun I pray we have a lot more of!!

I wanted to put as many patterns into this as possible...to reflect the extreme fun.

I've been doing quite a lot of layering behind my photos using a cut-by-hand technique I learned from Ashli Oliver. I am very timid when it comes to layering, especially in a messy way. I'm much better with neat and tidy square arrangements, but I've not felt satisfied with that technique lately. So, I've been experimenting with alternatives. Gettting a little bit messy and unsquare...its more like my REAL life...and the art should reflect real life, don't you think?

The bits and pieces in this kit are so amazing. This little ticket was just the perfect addition to my silly selfie. 

I love having a new chapter in my story with my sister - a funner and more involved chapter...

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

For my second project from Inside Out's True Story kit, I really wanted to focus on the "story" part...

It seems to me that the best parts of my own story have nothing to do with big deal stuff...its in the little parts, the small moments. 

I kept looking at those amazing My Minds Eye letters and how striking they were all together. I really wanted to save the letters for my other projects, but I loved how they looked together so much that I decided to punch them out and use the left over chipboard as a background. 

Letters are the small parts of words, moments are the small part of time...words and time make up our stories...maybe that only makes sense to me, but I love how the symbolism speaks to me. 

So...as I was considering how to use chipboard sheet my letters came from, I decided to paint over them. My original paint job was a bit to bright. So I used some white mist and toned it down a little bit.

The great super narrow tape reminded me of ribbon, so I wrapped it around several times, like a tie around a journal.

The mat for the photos is meant to look like a file folder and I used the MME typewriter paper (of course!!) to hint at my "story" theme.

I properly labeled my "file folder" and gave it a tab on top using a journal card, some die cut bits and the amazing letters!

And of course the little hashtag sayings properly identified my moments and my over all story!!!

LOVING where this kit is taking me in my exploration....

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Hello!  Welcome to my first True Story project post!

Have I mentioned before that I'm not so much into pink? Wellllllll...this kit might be the one that pushes me into the liking and maybe even LOVING pink category.

I started by thinking about my own true story, my faith is a huge part of it. I often pray for big huge mountains to be moved...or for God to show me the way around them, through them, over them...whatever. But in my study and learning, I have found that sometimes I'm the big mountain...and I hope that my story includes those moments when I have enough courage to BE moved by God as appropriate.

For some people, I think this flexibility is quite easy. I cannot necessarily say the same. I'm quite dedicated to my way of doing things and thus I sometimes find myself stubbornly holding onto things I have outgrown, that are holding me back, that are causing me pain, or are just plain old not working.

I started with black cardstock and played with a couple of mists - Heidi Swapp Gold and a very old Studio Calico white, creating a little background.

I then used several layers of the My Minds Eye paper to frame my picture so that it had some dimension and movement.

Butterflies are a motif I often use when I'm documenting change, movement, or metamorphosis in my own life - those moments I can identify with certainty are "becoming" moments. So...I definitely wanted to use the gorgeous My Minds Eye butterfly paper.

I'm not entirely sure that I could say that a butterfly is "my" symbol, but I can most certainly say that I use this symbol in a lot of my projects about my own growth.

Ok, ok,  ok...I sort of wished there two sheets of this so I could use the words on the flip side for one project and the butterflies for another...BUT...I chose the butterflies...they just spoke so much to me! 

I played with the layout a bunch of ways, but in the end opted to fussy cut thebutterflies and the phrases out so I could make my own arrangement.

The end result is supposed to be me being moved by all these gossamer butterflies with encouraging words...

It feels right...

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Its time for my final project from the Inside Out Inner Child kit...I'm sort of sad to see this kit go.

Its been amazing for me to get back in touch with that little scamp...I'm a very serious person who has a very difficult time joking around about myself, so this month's projects have been freeing and touching and have kept me smiling from ear to ear!

For the final project, I wanted to remind that little one that no matter what, she is so loved...loved beyond reason, loved no matter what. 

Not long ago, I re-discovered a box of photos of me when I was a child. I have been thoroughly enjoying rediscovering these shots of me...and the memories that go along with them.

These two spoke to me...spoke to what I feel like my inner child would look like if she could manifest herself for real. 

The Authentique paper with hearts is just so much fun!  And I love the striped paper as a background. I used some journaling cards and a couple of the die cuts to get a bit of layering done to frame the photos. 

I used the Faber Castell brush pen to freehand some border lines for dimension and color. 

The Fancy Pants mixed alphas are perfectly playful for a title like this. It makes me think of the newpaper / magazine cut out pictures I used to make when I was a kid. 

As is my habit, I cut of the chalkboard label into to pieces to add to both the top and bottom and provide some grounding. for the rest. 

My journaling is a simple reminder to myself...you are loved. Be at peace.

As a final project, this is probably my favorite. It definitely speaks to my heart.

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Greetings, fellow explorers!!! Felecia here with my third project from the Inner Child kit...

This time I'm tackling my ever present dream of being a ballerina.

True to my whole modern woman I can do all things mentality, I wanted to be both a astronaut and a ballerina when I was a child.

Fatefully, my body betrayed me in both arenas...poor eyesight coupled with a very non-ballerina body means I'm neither a space explorer nor a prima.

STILL...these sorts of visions continue to occupy my mind even now. 

I LOVE the ballet...I know, I know, I know...modern ballet is treacherous, filled with individuals damaged both in body and mind due to the rigorous training and whip thin physique that is required. 

But watching those dancers soar is like nothing else on this world with the possible exception of space travel...so...

My inner child remains an amazing ballerina. 

She can do EVERY move...which, of course, makes me a PERFECT arm chair judge of So You Think You Can Dance and other assorted youtube videos. 

My approach to this particular project was fueled by finding some lovely cut out images on the web. 

I found them so lovely...so...I used them with my Cricut to cut from the beautiful Fancy Pants Flutter papers...

Then I went on a search for some old photos I knew I had of me and my sister dancing in our grandmother's living room. 

I built some color pools using a good amount of water and gelatos and then let them drip down the page as a "curtain" or backdrop.

The entire rest of the project is hand cut...no paper trimmer needed. With these projects, I really really really wanted to hand cut as much as possible so that the projects felt as though an actual child was building the layers. 

My inner child will always be a ballerina and will always be fascinated with the beauty of dance. I never want to forget this dream...not because it will ever be my reality, but because it keeps me focused on beauty and grace, on discipline and hard work, on the sometimes painful things we must endure to be our very best.

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

As I worked with the amazing Inner Child kit, I realized I probably owe my inner child an apology for shushing her all the time...

And I kind of wondered if I'm the only person who does that...It seems like the world is full of very serious people...so I can't believe I'm the only one who tells my inner child to sit down and be quiet.

I figured I owed her an apology.

I've got a bunch of old photos that my mom gave me some time ago...I recently discovered the stash and really wanted to use some of them...

My inner child looks just like that little pig-tailed blonde girl...and she is NOT allowed to stand on suitcases very often!

I am absolutely in love with the Authentique papers this month...the bright colors and graphic patterns just speak to my more playful side.

I really wanted to use them ALL together,,,annnnnnnnddddd....so I did! :-)

The pennant pieces are among the great cardstock die cuts...there are ton of great possibilities to use on your projects.

Several layouts are always framed on the wall of my office / studio...I think this one needs to be included in the frames so I don't forget to let my inner child have some time!

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Jen

I don't know about you, but time seems to be flying by faster each year.  I think there's a conspiracy to speed things up... well, not really but I really wish I could slow it down a bit!  I feel like I'm only in my 20's still most days but I just turned 41 in August.  I have to say that I'm at my strongest, healthiest, and happiest I've been!  It's amazing that I'm in my 40's!  At least to me.

 This page was a celebration of my birthday.  It doesn't matter how old I will be, birthdays will always be special!  I am a kid at heart when it comes to celebrations!  I think you should have certain things for your birthday...  someone should recognize it's your birthday without being reminded, every birthday girl should get some cake or sweet treat, and it should be a day of the birthday girl doing whatever makes them feel relaxed and special!  One day out of the entire year should be dedicated to doing something nice for yourself!  It's nicer when someone else surprises you with greetings or cake but I hate waiting for surprises so I made sure to schedule some special treats that day.  I got my hair done and got a massage! 

 It's hard to be patient when you are kid and it really doesn't change much when you are an adult... except that you can go out and get your own cake and fun!  I wasn't disappointed when my husband and kids (and wonderful neighbors) got me cake!  I don't think a cake has ever tasted so good! 

 But more than the cake and gifts, a birthday is an end of a year in your life and a beginning of another year ahead.  I set new goals for myself and always reflect on my year.  This past year was one of change and good habits being set for the rest of my life.  I loved 40! 

 I know that being 41 will be just as fabulous if not even more!  I feel the winds of positive growth and change blowing!  I'm so excited to get started on new goals and new pathways to reach them!

 

What year made you feel the most optimistic or confident?  What determines a successful year of your life?

Behind the Art with Felecia

I am SO in love with this new Inner Child Kit from Inside Out.  Its absolutely in my sweet spot - both colors and theme....

My first project is a picture-less paper piecing project.

I tried very hard to find a photo of my grandparents farm - a place I spent many a summer day as a child. This is a place of very powerful and very happy memories of my childhood...and something my inner child clings to tightly.

There are lots of things I remember, but the most prominent memory is the red barn. Since I couldn't find a decent pic, I hand cut my own...

I used the  beautiful blue pen to loosely color some blue sky and built the barn on top in layers. In my mind the sky was always blue blue blue and the barn was always big. 

Sometimes its cathartic to hand cut and hand piece an image. There is not a straight line on this project...and I like it that way. I let my inner child have a little fun just cutting and pasting...seriously a very freeing process!

My inner child remembers the sweetness of summer. Now, I'm more of a spring / autumn girl these days, but I remember summer tasting and feeling so amazing.

When my imagination runs to that place, its larger than life and hits a note in my heart that can't be reached any other way...

Peace, ya'll!